The feedlot at the Panhandle Research, Extension, and Education Center (PREEC) in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, has temporarily shut down as of mid-January. This decision, prompted by a faculty departure, offers an opportunity to reevaluate the facility’s role in serving cattle producers across the region.
Established in the 1950s and significantly expanded in 2007, the feedlot has long been a hub for research, teaching, and extension efforts. With 61 additional pens added in its last expansion, the facility has supported studies on feedlot management practices tailored to western Nebraska’s distinct conditions, including higher elevation, drier climate, and reliance on alternative feed sources.
The beef industry remains a vital economic force in Nebraska, contributing over $1 billion to the western region’s economy. While the feedlot has historically played a key role in advancing the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s (UNL) beef-related programs, PREEC also supports initiatives such as the Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance program and cow-calf nutrition research.
In response to the closure, PREEC leaders, along with UNL’s Agricultural Research Division, Nebraska Extension, and the UNL Animal Science Department, have engaged with industry stakeholders through multiple listening sessions. These discussions, involving cattle producers, feedlot owners, and community members, aim to reshape the feedlot’s future to better meet industry needs.
Plans are in motion to explore collaborations with producers, industry leaders, and institutions such as the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture. These partnerships could drive innovation, enhance management strategies, and develop a skilled workforce for the Panhandle’s cattle sector.
As new strategies take shape, UNL anticipates cattle could return to the facility in the coming months. Producers and stakeholders are encouraged to contribute ideas and stay involved as efforts continue to align the feedlot’s operations with the evolving demands of the beef industry in western Nebraska.
